Postgame Quotes
11/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HEAD COACH Tom Crean
COACH CREAN: First and foremost, this game was really good for us. We knew that they would be a very aggressive, physical team based on their team from last year. I mean, they won 24 games, and what is, I think, the best league in the country that they play in, at least from what I've always grown up as a coach. When you look at their league, they can play with a lot of teams just like Bellarmine and Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana and all those teams, and Stan has done a very good job. He's established an excellent program so people want to come in there. They want to play for him, they want to continue their careers.
I think the addition of Parker just gives them a whole other level of play. I know he didn't have a big night tonight. But watching him on film in the SEC, I knew there was no doubt that he does things. So they were very physical, and we knew they would be. Our whole thing was that they would come out right away and play a speed game -- they averaged 85, 86, 87 points a game last year -- that they would come out and get after us and try to impose their will and their strength and toughness, and they did.
And we started to understand that we got to be physical with our block outs. We've got to get engaged. We're playing, obviously, a lot of guards that have not had to have a huge responsibility on the defensive rebounding side, but guard rebounds are going to be paramount for our team, just like they're paramount for any successful team.
We had a lot of long rebounds tonight. When you look at the fact we took 22 threes and they took 36, we didn't get enough of those. But we've got to continuing to go in and use our quickness. And as we get stronger, because obviously it's not like the teams we're seeing are not going to be physical, whether it's not in the league or in the league. So that's all part of the improvement process for us.
But this was a very good game for us to have to respond, for us to have to come back. For us to continue that run that we were making during the first half. Then to mix things up and to play different ways defensively and we have a lot to learn. We have a lot to learn about over-helping on non-shooters and on people that are just in there to create that help.
We did a lot of things on the fly, and I thought our guys, I tried to respond, and we had some -- obviously, we don't have a very deep bench, so I thought guys came in and played the minutes that were very extended. They did a good job in that, and again, that's good for us too because there are going to be nights that these young guys are going to be in the game for a lot of minutes when we're trying to get big wins.
I kept Collin and Max, we kept Collin and Max on a minute limit, and I was able to stay inside of that. This gives us some really valuable tools to continue to learn from as we get ready for the regular season.
Q. I guess what do you think needs to be improved on rebounding, and when Troy Williams gets back how will that affect the rebounding?
COACH CREAN: Well, I think it's got to improve because everybody just has to be -- there were a lot of long rebounds. And they were very physical and able to win the jumping contest some because we didn't get into their bodies as well, because obviously we're not as big. So, but I thought our aggressiveness picked up. So even there were times when we didn't -- we've got to get better on the weak sideboards, so I would say that for sure.
Again, we have foul shooters, guys like Nick. Nick gets to the foul line four times tonight and they're all technical free throws. So we need him to be more engaged on the weak side. I thought Collin did better. Hanner's in there doing a good job there, Robert's getting better as a rebounder, and Yogi was aggressive. So really it's just a matter of everybody improving.
It's not about one person being out or one person coming back. It's really about everybody improving, and in the case of Nick, if he does a better job on the weak side glass if you're in the bonus as early as we were in the second half, now he's going to the foul line, and that's two points. So we'll continue. We've got to spend even more time than what we have in really isolating the weak side block out, and isolating those jump ball contests, really what they turn into with long rebounds, high arching shots that were taken. So hopefully as we add players we'll get better, but hopefully through our drill work and our progression we'll get better.
Q. Can you talk about how well Hanner was able to play even after he got his second foul early and sticking with him?
COACH CREAN: I thought he did a good job because I almost put him back in in the first half but decided to let the other guys go based on the run that we were on. So we felt like we would need him because they had a very unique player in Lawson.
You know, he's still learning. There were times he wasn't in the right spot defensively. Times we could have done more offensively, but he's working hard every day. He's putting together good days, he's building a consistency in him, and we're just going to truly take it day by day with him.
Q. How surprised are you or are you surprised that Collin's playing so well quickly?
COACH CREAN: I'm just happy that he's back most importantly. Am I surprised that he's playing well? We recruited him -- I always remind him of this, we didn't recruit of his shooting ability because I thought it was pretty good. We didn't recruit him because he's a good young man, though he is. But we recruited him because he moved without the basketball and he could really play and find people.
When we first started recruiting him in the AAU, he was basically a point forward for his teams, and they were winning championships back when he was younger with those teams with him basically facilitating the offense. So I always liked that about him. He's shooting it with more confidence. But I just liked the fact that he's out there and getting real reps, real game speed, real game action. And frankly, if I had to look at this a couple months ago and say we would have had him for the exhibition games even though the doctors were optimistic, I wouldn't have shared the same optimism. But, fortunately, I was wrong, and he's worked really hard, and he wouldn't be out there if he wasn't helping.
We still have a minute limit on him. We still watch what we do in practice with him. But he knows how to play the game. I think he's smart, and I think what I'm seeing happen over the last couple games, because obviously he didn't get Montreal either, and it's easy to forget that for us, but he's getting more confidence.
Q. Talk about Robert Johnson's contribution tonight?
COACH CREAN: Well, I think when you look at guys you want your team and your players to get better from game one to game two, obviously, because now they have it under their belt. We did a lot more with him tonight at the point and moved Yogi around, especially to start the game. He's attacking. He's learning the speed. He plays at a very low center of gravity. He can attack. The biggest thing is he's getting his head up and he's playing with better vision all the time. He shot the ball very well. His footwork was really good. He's getting better defensively. But the thing tonight is he really understood he's got to be aggressive on the boards.
What I liked about him today, was we were looking at a couple things we felt we could get offensively that we've seen in film in the short prep, because we didn't spend a lot of time on these guys. I thought he picked that up this afternoon really well. Because our walkthroughs right now, there is a real practice element to it, even though we're not playing a lot of guys. We have a lot to learn. We can't really just come out and throw it around a little bit and talk a little bit and get ready to play the game. We've got to build our skills, and he did a good job and he carried that to the game.
I loved that his confidence was strong tonight, because, again, his vision, his tenacity, his ability to drive it, and hen his foot work really, really just got down and guarded in a pretty good way. So proud of his efforts and his improvements.
Q. What does he have to do to remain effective and stay on the court?
COACH CREAN: That's a great question. I just talked to him about this before we came in here. He's not a specialist here. That's not the role we have for him. He's a player. He's got to wear a lot of hats for us, and I think he's fully capable of impacting the game, and he's got to learn that. That becomes an experience and that becomes an expectation level. He's a very, very smart player. It's like the fouls. He caught the ball in the post a couple of times, and he turned it over because he didn't spread out and play. He didn't do a lot of posting up probably in his college life.
But the bottom line is he's got to spread out, play, be comfortable with that, and it's the same thing in the rebounding. He doesn't have to be a great leaper, but he's got to be a technician, so to speak. He's got to have physicality. He's got to step inside and body, and he's got to get into people. So I think it's just a matter of that. At the same time, when his shot isn't going, he can't get distracted.
I thought tonight he didn't get distracted in the second half. We were asking him to do a lot, and he'll get a lot better, that is the biggest reason that we took him. It wasn't just because he was a one or two trick guy. He's going to get better and be able to do a lot of different things for us hopefully.
Q. First media timeout you find yourself down. How can that experience of getting back early help you?
COACH CREAN: It's invaluable because they were playing very, very aggressively. We hadn't answered that aggressive call yet. Until they get in those situations, and until they get in those situations they don't really know what that means. So that was very good for them. I mean, nobody panicked. And it was just a matter of really bearing down and doing a better job.
We were challenging shots pretty well. We weren't finishing with the defensive board or getting into their bodies or we weren't getting back. They came with great speed. I don't think our guys thought this is for real. This team averaged 86 points a game last year. They're for real. They're a really good team. It's one of the reasons that we brought them and we wanted to play them. I love his team. I think he does an excellent job. They're going to be very good. I think that's going to be fun for their football team that's been so fantastic.
Their strength coach was down with the basketball team, and I know what they've done in football, lot of respect for their baseball coach, baseball program is outstanding. Lot of respect. Met their softball pitcher this summer when my son was pitching up there, all she does is set records. That's a fantastic athletic environment.
I wasn't surprised. I think our team was a little surprised, but they got over that shell-shocked appearance pretty quick because it's only going to get harder. They learned they could come back from that. Fortunately we have some time to get better, and I think we will.
Kevin Yogi Ferrell
Collin Hartman
Robert Johnson
Q. Collin, just talk about your contribution tonight?
Collin Hartman: Yeah, Coach Buckley and Nick and these guys make it so much easier. They're so concentrated on Yogi, and concentrated on all these other guys that can do so much and just step up when time is ready. All these guys have been working so hard just giving up extra shots and competing. When it comes game time, just do what you've been practicing.
Q. Coach said he was surprised you made it back so quickly. Could you envision being ready for the start of the exhibition season when you started to rehab and was that your goal?
Collin Hartman: Definitely it was. Talking with doctor Rink and set some goals and they really pushed me. I was ready for it. All my teammates have really, really helped me get physically where I need to be. Coach Jackson's helping me get physically where I need to be. We go really hard in practice every day, so these guys pushed us and make the game easier for me.
Q. Yogi, I think you guys averaged 16 three pointers a game last season. How much more confident are you to shoot like that? It just feels like you guys aren't nearly as hesitant.
YOGI FERRELL: No, we're not hesitant with it. That's because we work on it in practice. We want to get inside-out shots. First we want to go in the paint, look at Hanner, guys like that. It takes it away and we just kick out three. We're not going to be hesitant on the shot because we know we've got great shooters on the team.
Q. Yogi, you learned about who you are as a team tonight, the way you got behind 11 points and were able to come back?
YOGI FERRELL: What I learned about this team is guys didn't get down. New guys especially, they didn't get down at all. We were down by almost 15, and guys kept each other up, pounded each other on the butts and stuff. So I think that is the biggest thing for us is to never get down when people go on runs because the game is all about runs. So if you just know how to overcome those runs, we'll be okay.
Q. Rob, obviously involved on the offense, but nine defensive rebounds is a big number for you. Just talk about your focus on that area of the game today?
Robert Johnson: Yeah, coming to the game was something that we wanted to focus on. We knew it would be a key for this game and basically a key for the season. Really those guys just made it easy for me. Hanner and Collin were going to hit those guys so I just go in and got the ball and cleaned it up and made it easy to get rebounds.
Q. Rob, you and James, at some level do you feel it's easier to embrace the role because from Canada to here it's pretty obvious you're going to need to play a lot of minutes this season?
Robert Johnson: Yeah, I think it's definitely easier because we know we have to be a big part of the team as far as the offense. We're just happy with the guys we've got. We've got Nick, Yogi, and James the type of shooters and drivers that we have. We all can make the game easier for each other from that aspect. So I think definitely it's going to be a key for this season.
Q. Coach was talking about the competitiveness. How much did that help you in this situation?
Robert Johnson: Yeah, growing up with three brothers, it was basically always a competition around the house. So I think coming here with the attitude of Coach Crean and his staff, we basically do competition things every day. When you're going against guys like Yogi and James, and certain drills just brings the best out of everybody.
Q. Yogi, you've been around as long as anybody as far as playing on this team. What is the biggest thing this off-season and in your first exhibition game, where do you feel like the team is more comfortable?
YOGI FERRELL: You know, I think Hanner has improved at attacking the rim. Coach always says be a piranha at the rim, and I feel like he does that offensively and defensively. He gets in there and hitting those big guys. So I think that's the biggest thing for him that he's improved on is being a lot more physical.
Maybe the thing he needs to improve on more is being more in control when he catches the ball in the post. Just slow it down a little bit, taking his time when things kind of get sped up in his mind.
Q. Can you talk about Collin's play today?
YOGI FERRELL: I'm not really surprised to see him come out there and play the way he did. Like he said, he's been shooting with Coach Buck before practice almost every day. I see him out there, and we call him the shot doctor, Coach Buck. So the shot doctor will get your shot right, that's for sure. So I see him out there every day before practice getting shots. So all you've got to do is get reps up, reps up. You've got to that confidence. He went out there today and showed what he's been doing, and how well he's been doing it.
He's been from treatment every day getting better. I feel like Collin can be one of those guys that can come in and make a couple threes for us.
Q. Collin, is there a point in your recovery where you said I feel ahead of schedule? I feel like I can get back, maybe not specifically for these games, but I can be ready to contribute this season? It's not something that's going to cost me a lot of this season?
Collin Hartman: I don't think there was any one specific point going throughout the rehab and the day that it happened I kept telling myself I'm going to be back for next season because a six-month period, six-and-a-half months away. I know it's kind of the early end of it, but the whole mindset I've always had, and these guys have always been telling me you can be back, you can be back, and that's what the staff has been preaching to me. If I'm in there every day and I'm working, then it's a very attainable goal.
Q. You obviously played in AAU. Going from what you saw, what do you see now? Is he looking like the player that can challenge himself?
YOGI FERRELL: Yeah, he's kind of looking like his old Steph a little bit when he played at Cathedral. I think the thing is like I said before, his confidence got up, and I think that is the biggest part. If he just does everything that coach says, he can get out there on the court and definitely contribute for us.
Q. Yogi, you guys had those three and four-guard line ups. What do you have to do as far as boxing out?
YOGI FERRELL: What you have to do is take the guy completely. The coaches say we don't have to be the ones to get the ball and blocking out the bigger guys, just boxing out so somebody else can get it. I think that is the main thing we do is trying to carve out space, take those big guys out the lane so the other guys can come in and rebound for us.
University of Indianapolis Head Coach Stan Gouard
On mistakes made and changes for the season:
That technical foul, we missed some buckets, and we need to go back and replay some of those things. McElroy missed a layup, Joe Lawson came at a couple plays late. We'll go back to the drawing board and look at some of the things we did wrong tonight but there were a lot of positives that came out of tonight's game for us.
One thing that I've never questioned with our guys is their heart. When we've played against them, a top 25 team at one point, the best shooting class in the country - those guys shot the ball really well tonight. It's hard to guard when you have a guy like Yogi Ferrell running around making it difficult for defensive shooting. I know our guys have been working hard since day one. I question some of the brain freezes we had a some point. We can't give those up, but there were a lot of positives tonight.
On Indiana's plays:
They made shots. Blackmon and Yogi, all those guys made shots and stretched the defense a little bit. They stopped guarding McElroy in the perimeter. Whoever was guarding him was sinking off a little bit. They could get Joe Lawson off of them. We have to make sure our guys invest more time in getting shots up. Sometimes our guys take it the wrong way: you miss a shot, they get hit. You still have to guard. I think they really got us in the second half with the transitional lead. One play that really sticks out in my mind, we missed a shot, [Indiana] drove the court and scored with a layup and none of our guys were within three or four steps to the ball so we need to work on that.
On Dai-Jon:
He's been struggling the past few games. He's still transitioning to what we expect of him. He had a great pre-season up until about a week ago. He's been struggling a bit. But I think once he understands where he can score the ball at, he'll be fine. But I will say one thing about him: he didn't quit guarding all night. He did a great job on defense. But it's my job to bring him along and I think he's going to be okay.
On lessons learned from tonight's game:
We scored better than I thought we would have tonight. But I did learn that our defense is not very good. I did learn that some of the principles that we've taught since day one went out the door tonight. We'll go back and fix those things and watch the tape. We don't have school tomorrow so we'll have our guys come in at some point to prepare for Friday night. It's a quick turnaround; we play Friday and Saturday night. Happy with our effort, but a little disappointed in some of the things we did down the stretch.
